Little will change at this year’s demolition derbies, engines will still rev, cars will still be smashed and the audience, as always, will go nuts. Once again the derby is focused on getting some fresh talent in the arena and organizers will be continuing both the chain-up class and women’s compact class.

The total prize money is also about the same with just a $1,000 increase, which brings the total to $14,000. 

For the third year the derby will be offering a chain-up car class. Chain-up cars are a more affordable option for drivers who want to be able to build a demolition derby car affordably in an easier competitive environment. They are quite literally cars that have been stripped and had trunks, hoods and other moving parts that may get in the way chained up in order to protect against impact.

This is an alternative to the more competitive limited weld class, derby organizer Don Adams said. These are often “old iron” cars built in the 50s and 60s that have had a lot of money invested under the hood over the years. Adams rattled off items including $10,000-$12,000 engines and $3,000 transmissions. 

For only a few hundred dollars a young or inexperienced driver can build a chain-up car. If it runs and drives it can be a chain-up car and they can reasonably be purchased for $200-$300, Adams said.

Really, drivers don’t even have to use chains if they don’t want to. Using wire, specifically number nine, has also been known to work, Adams said.

He added that the event has always had a good number of cars registered in the years that the chain-up class has been offered. This year the derby expects 10-12 chain up cars in the running but cars can be registered the day of the event.

The women’s compact division will also return to the demolition derby for its third year. This class is specifically for the ladies who want to get involved in the derby. Adams’ own granddaughters, Jordan Gibson and Kalina Vaughn, have competed against each other in some friendly cousin rivalry for the last two years. Adams encouraged this year’s Figure 8 racers to consider letting the women in their lives behind the wheel of the car following the Figure 8 race. 

The derby will also be operated under Big Horn Basin Unified (BHBU) rules, which allows racers to have the peace of mind that they can race different derbies without having to build a new car each race. The rules began roughly five years ago, Adams said, and they are currently used in all Big Horn Basin derbies.

Derby tickets can be purchased at the box office or online at parkcountyeventsandfair.com/park-county-fair/park-county-fair-tickets. Tickets are $20 for grandstand seats and $25 for box seats.